Félix Varela

At the age of 24, Father Félix Varela was appointed professor of philosophy, physics, and ethics at the San Carlos Seminary. There, he led a true pedagogical revolution: he was the first to teach in Spanish rather than Latin, abandoned rigid scholasticism in favor of an eclectic philosophy, and introduced the experimental method. He installed the island's first physics and chemistry laboratory and wrote the first physics textbook in Cuba. Among his students were future great Cuban intellectuals such as José Antonio Saco, Domingo del Monte, and José de la Luz y Caballero.

In 1821, he was elected deputy to represent Cuba at the Cortes (the Spanish parliament) in Madrid. There, he defended bold proposals: autonomy for the overseas provinces, independence, and the abolition of slavery. In 1823, the restoration of absolutism by King Ferdinand VII led to fierce repression. Condemned to death for his liberal positions, Father Varela had to flee urgently to Gibraltar, then went into permanent exile in the United States.

He settled in New York, where he spent nearly thirty years. He dedicated himself heart and soul to pastoral ministry, particularly to successive waves of poor immigrants, notably the Irish fleeing the famine. To better accompany them, he learned the Irish language. He founded parishes (including the Church of the Transfiguration), built churches, free schools, and orphanages. In 1837, he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of New York. In 1841, he obtained a doctorate in theology from St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.

Afflicted with severe asthma, his health declined. Starting in 1846, he made frequent trips to Florida in search of a milder climate. It was in Saint Augustine that he passed away holily on February 25, 1853, at the age of 64.

Father Félix Varela died with a reputation for holiness, stripped of everything and abandoned to Divine Providence. His mortal remains were first interred in Saint Augustine. In November 1911, thanks to the efforts of Cuban students and intellectuals, his ashes were repatriated to Cuba. On August 22, 1912, during a solemn ceremony, his remains were placed in a marble urn within the Aula Magna of the University of Havana, where they still rest.

During his historic apostolic journey to Cuba in January 1998, Pope John Paul II prayed before his tomb at the University of Havana. He hailed him as the "cornerstone of Cuban nationality" and the "true father of Cuban culture." In March 2012, Pope Benedict XVI also held him up as an example during his homily in Havana, recalling that he was "the first to have taught his people how to think."

The cause for the beatification of Father Félix Varela was officially introduced at the diocesan level in 1989, and the diocesan phase concluded in 1996. The file was then transmitted to Rome.

On March 14, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues, thereby conferring upon him the title of Venerable.

The Italian Archbishop Mgr. Vincenzo Paglia was appointed postulator of the cause. In June 2016, a medical file concerning an alleged miracle—the unexplained healing of a young Cuban—was officially submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. In November 2022, Mgr. Paglia confirmed that a potential miracle was undergoing in-depth examination by the Vatican's medical and theological commissions. It concerns the unexplained healing of a child suffering from a congenital malformation, obtained after his family prayed through the intercession of Father Varela and placed his image near him.

The spirituality of Father Félix Varela rests on an absolute trust in Divine Providence, a deep love for the truth, and boundless charity toward the most destitute. He was able to reconcile in an admirable way the rigor of experimental science, the depth of philosophical reflection, and social commitment with an unwavering Catholic faith.

Considered one of the founding fathers of the Cuban nation, he left an indelible mark both in Cuba and in the United States. His disciple José de la Luz y Caballero wrote about him: "As long as one thinks of the island of Cuba, one will think of the one who, first, taught us how to think."

In 1981, the Cuban government created the "Félix Varela Order," the country's highest distinction for cultural merit. In 1997, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp bearing his likeness to honor his work with immigrants.